An Interview with Katie Genta
MilspoFAN: Tell us a little about yourself, your journey as a military spouse, and where you are today.
Katie: Like every good mermaid,I fell foraSailor.Webothgrew up in a super cute little town in Illinoisand have been married for 13 years! Our duty stations have included Norfolk, Pensacola,Tampa,Okinawa, Hawaii, Quantico and back to Hawaii withtwo 7-monthdeployments and a15-monthI.A.sprinkled in that mix. We’vetakenadvantage ofeverystation andhavetraveledeverywhere from Europe,the Mid East, The Maldives,and Bali.Wecall Hawaii home for now with our8-year-olddaughter.
MilapoFAN: How did you become a jewelry artist?
Katie: Irecall about20 years ago I was working in retail,andIwould make little braceletsoranklets andget approached to sell them.I really didn’t think much of pursing it at the time.It wasn’t until wePCS’dto Okinawain 2012asa new Mom with a lot of extra time on my hands. We would spend many hours at thebeach,and I was enamored by the colorful shells and pottery shards I would find. I started creating pieces for my friends and family and,with some encouragement,started my business selling at local gift shops and craft fairs.
MilspoFAN: Describe for us your creative work and the aesthetic of your pieces?
Katie: My work has been described as raw but radiant, colorful and whimsical. I like to leave sea glass and pottery as it’s found,just slightly refined.Idraw much of myinspiration from the colors of the sea. The beauty of sea glass is that it’s beensoftened andgently wore down byyears of tumbling inthe sea. Each piece is so unique.It’sincredible to thinkthatit wasoncesomething wediscardedsuch as an old bottle. The sea smooths it out and,over time,itturns intowhatmanyconsider a gemstone. Working with these beach finds always testsmy creativity because each piece is so unique.
MilspoFAN: How has your role as a military spouse impacted your work - creatively, logistically, or otherwise?
Katie: Each new duty station brings changesboth creatively and logistically. For me,it is easy to say that most my inspiration comes from what I am surrounded by.So,when we moved from Hawaii to Northern Virginia,and hadn’t experienced a winter in almost nine years,it was huge adjustment.My husband was assigned toa 10-month school at the Marine Corps War College,and we weren’t sure where we would be going next. I felt like we hadjustunpackedandfiguredoutthe flow oflife and we were packing up again.Logistically,I have had to change how I source my materials(based on our geographic location),andmyprocesses(based on ourlivingspace).It feels amazing to come back to a placewehave already lived,but there are changes in your spouse’s job. The Military typicallywants each new job to expand inresponsibility. That usually means the spousebearsmore responsibilities andhasless time to work. So,whileI may not be working as muchas I’d like,I am trying totake advantage of where we areandsoak up all theinspiration around me.
MilspoFAN: What’s next for you?
Katie: To be honest, I don’t know. Some days the real challenges of life as a Mil-spouse seem too hard to overcome. There are moments where I don’t want to continue with my business. Then there are moments of tremendous inspiration and motivation -That sweet spot where the magic happens! Sowhat’s next? Who knows?
MilspoFAN: What is the most practical piece of advice that you would give to other artists?
Katie: Something I have to remind myself ofand can really apply to any military spouse“ youare right where you are meant to be”. Not all duty stations will be your favorite or exciting but there is always something to take away from the experience. Make the most of your time there, connect withlike mindedspouses, take a course in another aspect of your art, craft or business.
MilspoFAN: Where can we see your work?
https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheGlitseaGypsy
